Michael Hauri November 7, 2008

Michael Hauri (b.1983, Swiss) is currently studying photography at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hannover, Germany. He has been working as freelance photographer for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung since last year after completing an internship there. For his project in Mongolia, Michael received several awards such as the “Prix Marc Grosset” in France, which in early 2008 allowed him to do a story on a community of fishermen who live on a remote island in the Senegalese Saloum Delta. Michael is interested in the socio-cultural transitions in Eastern Europe and recently began a long term documentary project on the Maramures region of northern Romania that was exhibited in spring 2008 during the Lumix Festival for Young Photojournalists in Hannover, Germany.

About the Photograph:

“Elhadji Birama Sarr, 22, ignites a fire on a pirogue in the Senegalese Saloum Delta. His crew from the small village of Baoût will use it for cooking and warming up their hands at sea. I documented the life of these fishermen for several days in January 2008. In this picture, they are on their way to the mouth of the Saloum River about 50 miles from home. Birama and his colleagues will fish for Bonga Shad, which takes the whole night. On the small pirogue, the villagers have to work under perilous conditions. Accidents caused by insufficient lighting on the boat or other missing safety precautions can happen easily because many fishermen don’t know how to swim. Because of the low wages earned from fishing, it is not surprising that more and more of them are trying to emigrate to Europe. In fact, in the past few months, an increasing number of pirogues secretly left the Saloum Delta at night and never came back.”

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Photographer and photo editor Geoffrey Hiller has created Verve Photo to feature photographs and interviews by the finest contemporary image makers today. Verve Photo is a reminder of the power of the still image. Verve Photo will also point you to new photo agencies, publications, and inspiring multimedia projects.